Lamp socket



0 WEST LAMP SO CKE 'I May 17, 1927.

Filed April 'INVENTOR 0170 West ATTORNEY v Patented May 17, 1927.

STATES OTTO WEST, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORTO THE MILLER COMPANY, OF MERIDEN,

i I CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LAMP SOCKET.

Application filed April 27, 1,925. Serial No. 25,935;

The present invention relates to lamp sockets and is more particularly directed toward a socket suitable for use in connection with low voltage electrical automotive equipment, although it is also useful in connection with certain foreign forms of sockets designed for higher Voltages.

As ordinarily constructed lamp sockets for this purpose are provided with a cylindrical outer shell which has two oppositely disposed bayonet slots to cooperate with the lateral extending pins carried on the low voltage lamps ordinarily used on automobiles. These lamps may be readily inserted into or removed from the socket by merely passing the base of the lamp into the cylindrical shell and bringing the pins on the lamps around to the bayonet slots so that a spring contact member at the base of the socket will hold the pins in place. In certain automotive vehicles such as buses which are used by the general public, the operators have experienced difliculties and loss on account of the theft of lamps, which comes from the ease and dispatch with which the lamps can be removed from the sockets by any one.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a socket provided with devices which render it diflicult for one, not knowing the construction of the device, to remove a lamp. In this manner the theft of lamps may be materially reduced without making it necessary to provide special devices for the removal and replacement of burnt out lamps by the owner of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide lamp sockets of this type with a movable sleeve or collar having parts so arranged that in one position the lamp may be readily removed from the socket and a second position in which the lamp cannot be removed, and to so arrange the parts that the insertion of a lamp into the socket may be made without difliculty.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown, for purposes of illustration, one of the many possible embodiments in which the present invention may take form, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same:

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the improved lamp socket;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view with'parts broken away, showing the theft provision devicein one position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the theft provision device in another position; v I

Fig. 4 is a sectional view takenon the line 44 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspectiveview of the sliding sleeve or collar. I

The socket is provided with the usual cylindrical shell 10, and with suitable contacts and binding posts, not shown. The shell is also provided on .oppositesideswith bayonet slots 11 which open at the front end of the socket shell. These slots are provided with lateral extensions 12 and return portions 13 which are adapted to receive the lugs 14, carried on the base15 of the electric lamp, in the ordinary manner. In order that the lugs 14 may be held in plac-ein the bayonet slots, the lamp socket is provided with a spring which tends to force the lamp base out of the socket. As hereshown such a spring 16 is carried in a housing 17 so as to operate against a plunger contact 18 which engages the base of the lamp socket;

A sleeve or collar 19 is loosely carried on the outside of the shell 10. This sleeve'or collar is'guided for reciprocation'along the socket shell by means of a prong 20'which is carried in a slot 21 in the shell and also by means of a lug 22 which is'adapted to slide alongthe straight part of one of the slots 11. The upper end of this slot is cut back as indicated at 23 so that the lug 22 may be passed upwardly far enough to permit the pin on the lamp base to pass by.

The present device is particularly designed v for use in fixtures or lampsmounted so as to carry downwardly projecting lamp bulbs. When one desires to insert a lamp into the socket it is merely necessary to pass the pins 14 on the lamp'base up into the bayonet 'slot 11. In doing this the pin engages the lower side of the lug 22 and lifts the sleeve or collar 19. When the lamp is turned slightly to bring the lugs to the return part of the bayonet slot, the collar 19 drops under the influence of gravity so as to bring the lug 22 to the position indicated in Fig. 3. The amount of movement is limited by the operation of'the prong 20 in'the slot 21 which also prevents the removal of the col-f lar from the shell 10. It is now impossible to remove the lamp in the ordinary manner, for the lug 22 Will be in the path of movement of the pin 14 on the lamp base.

Then it is desired. to remove the lamp. it is necessary for oneto reach it behind the lamp bulb and raise the sleeve or collar 15, to the upper position as indicated in 2'. This brings the lug 22 above the pin 14; so

ltliat the in can be withdrawn throu h the l D v bayonet slot 11. without interference.

It is'obvious that the-invention may be embedied in many forms and constructions and I Wish it to be understood that theparticular forms shown and described are but a few of the many forms. Various modifications and changes being possible, I do not in any way limit myself with respect thereto.

I claim:

1. In a lamp socket, in combination, a cylindrical shell having bayonet slots adapted to receive the laterally extendingpins of'an electric lamp base, and a sleeve slidably car ried on the shell and having two positions in one of which the, lamp base may be inserted or removed freely and in the other of which the lamp cannot .be removed, the sleeve having the device movable into and out of the path of movement 'ofone of the pins as the sleeve is slid along the shell.

2. In a lamp. socket,*in combination, .a cylindrical shell having bayonet slots adapted to receive the laterally extending pins of an electric lamp base, and a sleeve carried on the shell. and having two positions in one of which the lamp base maybe inserted or removed freely and in the other of which the lamp cannot be removed, the sleeve having a projection which extends into one of the slots and Which is movable along the slot to be in the path of one of said pinsor out of said path.

3. In a lamp socket, in combination, a cylindrical shell having bayonet slots adapted to receive the laterally extending pins of an electric lamp base, and a sleeve carriedon the shell, and having two positions in one oi which the lamp base may be inserted or moved freely and in'the other 01 which the lamp cannot be removed, the sleeve having a projection which extends into one of the w;

slots and which is movable along the slot to in the path otone of said pins or out of said path, the shell having a longitudinal slot and the sleeve having a projection car ried in the slot, the slot and projection cooperating to prevent removal of the sleeve.

4. A device for preventing the removal of a lamp having laterally extending pins from a socket having bayonet slots cooperative with the pins, comprising a sleeve slidably and non-rotatably'carriedby the socket and having a projection carried in one of said slots. 7 r 1 V 5. In combination, a lamp socket having slots for receiving the lugs on a lamp base, and a collar surrounding the socket and nonrotatably guided for reciprocation along the socket, said collar carrying a lug engaging a lamp base lug to prevent removalof the lamp base-when the collar is in position.

6. In combination, a lamp having laterally extending pins, a lamp socket having bayonet slots. for cooperation with said pins, a gravity actuated member .earried'by thelamp socket for preventing the removal of the lamp, the member beingengageable by one of the pins to lift it and permit insertionof the lamp.

Signed'at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, this21 day of April, 1925.

OTTO WEST. 

